Amos jesse scitaff



(No Model.)

A. J. SCHAPP.

RAIL JOINT.

No. 404,308. yPatellted May 28, 1889.

"will @Hom/w13@ 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS JESSE SCIIAFF, OF MARION, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VILLIAM R. EARLY, OE SAME PLACE. Y

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f Letters Patent N 0. 404,308, dated May 2.8, 1889.

Application filed January 29, 1889. Serial No. 297,969. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, AMOS JESSE SCHAFF, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Ma# In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective Y view of the improved rail-joint. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the chai r,with the ends of the rails and the wedge in elevation. Fig. r 3 is a transverse section of the chair, taken between the ends of the rails. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the wedge.

Referring' to the drawings by letter, A A designate two track-rails, which are provided 2o in their meeting ends with the longitudinal notches B, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

C designates the chair, consisting of a casting having the base D, provided with the z 5 flanges E at its side edges, the upper portions of said flanges being bent inward, as shown at F, so as to bind against the web of the rails and bear against the under sides of the head of the same. A connecting web or bar, G, 3o extends between these upper portions, F, of the flanges and passes through the notches B .in the rails, as clearly shown.

The flanges E of the chair are made somewhat deeper than the supporting-flanges of therails, and the upper side of the base of the chair is inclined. Through the space between the underside of the rails and the upper surface of the base of the chair I insert the fastening-wedge I'I,which has alongitudinal slit, I, thereby forming a tine, J, which can be bent at one side so as to prevent the wedge slipping from its place. y

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

lthe arrangement of my device and the advantages of the same will, it is thought, be readily understood. The chair is secured in position at the .proper point, the ends of the rails then placed therein, and the fastening-wedge then inserted, thereby completing the joint. 5o

By my improved rail-joint the ends of the rails are securely fastened, while at the same time they are allowed ample play, owing to their contraction and expansion under the action of cold and heat. The' ends of the 55 rails are prevented from falling by means of a wedge and the connecting-web G, and are prevented from lateral movement by the upper portion, F, of the side flanges, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In a rail-joint, the combination,with the chair having a base provided with an inclined upper surface, and having upwardly-extended flanges, and a web between said ilanges, of the rail having longitudinal notches engagin said web, and the wedge inserted through the space between the rails and the inclined upper surface of the base of the chair, as set 7o forth.

2. The combination of the chair having a base provided with an inclined upper surface, the flanges rising from the edges of said base, and the web between said flanges of the rails having longitudinal notches engaging said web, and the wedge inserted between the lower side of the rails and the upper surface of the base of the chair and having atinc adapted to be bent to one side, as set forth. 8o

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have heretoafixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AMOS JESSE SCHAFEr Vitnesses:

HIRAM J. PLoUGH, JOHN MeGoRIAN. 

